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📖 Anointed
The Extraordinary Effects of Social Status in a Winner-Take-Most World by Toby Stuart
In partnership with
“Status is the invisible thread weaving through every part of our lives, shaping who wins, who loses, and who gets heard.”
We love to believe success is about talent or hard work. But is that always true?
In Anointed, Toby Stuart reveals why social status quietly shapes our world. He exposes how this hidden hierarchy rules everything from art prices to boardroom conversations and even health disparities.
It’s a fun read, loaded with stories but deeply informed by the underlying social science.
SMARTEST TAKEAWAYS
1️⃣ Status Is Our Mental Shortcut, and a Double-Edged Sword
We rely on status to make sense of a complex world. Instead of judging things on pure merit, we lean on whom or what is “anointed” with prestige. This shortcut helps us decide what’s valuable or trustworthy but also locks in existing advantages, making it hard for outsiders or newcomers to break through.
2️⃣ Small Advantages Snowball into Huge Gaps
Status compounds over time. A slight edge early on—like being seated in the “right” spot in meetings or having a tiny reputation boost—can multiply into massive, sometimes insurmountable, leads. This isn’t just luck or merit; it’s the power of social dynamics amplifying small differences into huge success gaps.
3️⃣ Status Can Overrule Merit, For Better or Worse
Skill and quality matter, but who gets credit or attention often depends on status. Innovators like Elon Musk benefit from their elevated status even when they stumble, while equally capable but lesser-known people struggle to get recognized. This dynamic sustains inequality but also reveals why we trust brands, institutions, and icons so deeply.
Toby E. Stuart is the Leo Helzel distinguished professor of business administration at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. He is one of the world’s foremost experts on social hierarchies.
INSIGHTFUL EXAMPLE
Status in the Art World
A genuine Rembrandt sells for hundreds of millions, while a near-identical painting by a skilled disciple fetches a fraction. The difference? Status, the invisible stamp of anointment that shapes value independent of quality.
BOOK FACTS
Anointed
First published: Sept. 2, 2025
Print length: 288 pages
Listening length: 7:41
Ratings: Goodreads 4.0
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